|CoR| Cool_Hand_Luke

Proverbs 30–31 (Listen)The Words of Agur30 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.1

The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out.22 Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man.3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!

5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.6 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

7 Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die:8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,9 lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

10 Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.

11 There are those3 who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.12 There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth.13 There are those—how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift!14 There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind.

15 The leech has two daughters: Give and Give.4 Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”:16 Sheol, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, “Enough.”

17 The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.

18 Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand:19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a virgin.

20 This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, “I have done no wrong.”

21 Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up:22 a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food;23 an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress.

24 Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise:25 the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer;26 the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs;27 the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank;28 the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings' palaces.

29 Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride:30 the lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any;31 the strutting rooster,5 the he-goat, and a king whose army is with him.6

32 If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth.33 For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.The Words of King Lemuel31 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

2 What are you doing, my son?7 What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows?3 Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink,5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.6 Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress;87 let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.99 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.The Woman Who Fears the Lord

10 10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.17 She dresses herself11 with strength and makes her arms strong.18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.1222 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Footnotes[1] 30:1 Or Jakeh, the man of Massa

[2] 30:1 Revocalization; Hebrew The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal

[3] 30:11 Hebrew There is a generation; also verses 12, 13, 14

[4] 30:15 Or “Give, give,” they cry

[5] 30:31 Or the magpie, or the greyhound; Hebrew girt-of-loins

[6] 30:31 Or against whom there is no rising up

[7] 31:2 Hebrew What, my son?

[8] 31:6 Hebrew those bitter in soul

[9] 31:8 Hebrew are sons of passing away

[10] 31:10 Verses 10–31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet

[11] 31:17 Hebrew She girds her loins

[12] 31:21 Or in double thickness

(ESV)

Evening:

2 Corinthians 8

2 Corinthians 8 (Listen)Encouragement to Give Generously8 We want you to know, brothers,1 about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor2 of taking part in the relief of the saints—5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you3—see that you excel in this act of grace also.8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”Commendation of Titus16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going4 to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending5 the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers6 of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.

Footnotes[1] 8:1 Or brothers and sisters

[2] 8:4 The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context